Reliance Jio users, the days of free data are getting over. The company's services will go paid starting April 1, 2017. This was announced by the company's chairman Mukesh Ambani at an event | Updated: Feb 21, 2017, 02.51 PM IST

Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Jio users, the days of free data are getting over. The company's services will go paid starting April 1, 2017. This was announced by the company's chairman Mukesh Ambani at an event in Mumbai today.

Reliance Jio's 'free services' get clean chit: 6 things to know

Reliance Jio's 'free services' get clean chit: 6 things to know

After much-speculation, the telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) finally 'approved' Reliance Jio’s second promotional offer, christened Happy New Year. Trai told TDSAT that the offer is different from the company's inaugural free offer (called Welcome Offer) and is not an extension of it. The incumbent telecom companies Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have been vehemently opposing the extension of the company's free data offer.

In November 2016, the company's chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani announced the extension of the plan to March 31, 2017. The announcement further intensified the ongoing brutal price war in the telecom industry.

Wonder what as a consumer has changed for you? Here are the 6 things that have changed in Reliance Jio's 'free services' plan...

New deadline

Reliance Jio customers can enjoy the full bouquet of company's free services till the end of March 31 2017. In fact, there are speculations that Reliance Jio Infocomm subscribers may continue to enjoy data services at a nominal rate, combined with free voice calls, for another three months.

New name

The company 'renamed' its 'Welcome Offer' to 'Happy New Year Offer'. All those on the company's 'Welcome Offer' were automatically moved to the new offer on January 1, 2017.

New FUP limit of 1GB

The company has gone a bit 'stingy' with its new plan. Under the 'Happy New Year' offer, the daily FUP limit for users has been brought down to 1GB from the earlier limit of 4GB. Post 1GB, users can browse unlimited data at 128 kbps.

Reliance chairman Ambani said that this has been done as some users were misusing their free data privileges and clogging the network for others.

Rs 100 for data under new plan

The Mukesh Ambani-owned operator is reportedly working out a new tariff plan which will be valid till June 30. Unlike the current free offers that incumbent telcos have termed predatory, the alleged upcoming offer will charge a fee of about Rs 100 for data, while voice will remain free.

Jio now fully supports MNP

While announcing the 'Happy New Year' offer Ambani announced that Jio now fully supports Mobile Number Portability (MNP). All customers can retain their existing number when they migrate to Jio. This, he said, is being progressively launched across India through MyJio.

Ambani announced a new membership plan called Jio Prime. The membership fees for Jio Prime is Rs 99 per year. Jio Prime Members can continue to enjoy the benefits of the company's Happy New Year plan at an introductory price of Rs 303 per month. Prime users will continue to enjoy these unlimited benefits until March 31, 2018.

The voice services will continue to remain free. Roaming too will be free on Jio's network.
Ambani also said that Reliance Jio will provide 20% additional data as compared to each competitor in market.